Thermal-activated beverage containers and holders

Abstract

A beverage container holder has a dual-function graphics pattern. The holder comprises a tubular liner having at least a first opening for receiving a beverage container, the liner having an inside surface and an outside surface, a layer of insulating material on the inside surface of the liner, a graphics pattern applied to the outer surface of the liner, and a thermochromic ink composition on the outer surface of the liner forming at least a portion of the graphics pattern. The thermochromic ink composition has (1) a first state that matches or masks a portion of the graphics pattern at room temperature, (2) a second state that reacts to thermal change at a temperature above room temperature from a hot medium disposed in the container to reveal a first phase of the graphics pattern, and (3) a third state that reacts to a thermal change at a temperature below room temperature from a cold medium disposed in the container to reveal a second phase of the graphics pattern. In another embodiment certain color-change visual effects are produced by images formed with blended thermochromic ink compositions that change from one color at room temperature to a first color at a higher temperature and to a different second color at a lower temperature.

1 . A beverage container holder having a dual-function graphics pattern, the holder comprising a tubular liner having at least a first opening for receiving a beverage container, the liner having an inside surface and an outside surface, a layer of insulating material on the inside surface of the liner, a graphics pattern applied to the outer surface of the liner, and a thermochromic ink composition on the outer surface of the liner covering or providing at least a portion of the graphics pattern, the thermochromic ink composition having (1) a first state that matches or masks a portion of the graphics pattern at room temperature, (2) a second state that reacts to thermal change at a temperature above room temperature from a hot medium disposed in the container to reveal a first phase of the graphics pattern, and (3) a third state that reacts to a thermal change at a temperature below room temperature from a cold medium disposed in the container to reveal a second phase of the graphics pattern.  
   
   
       2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the selected phase of the graphics pattern revealed by the third state is a different portion of or a different color or the same color in the graphics pattern when compared with the phase of the graphics pattern revealed by the second state.  
   
   
       3 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the graphics pattern includes a permanent section applied to one portion of the sleeve, uncovered or made apparent by the thermochromic ink, and in which a second hide and reveal portion of the graphics pattern is covered or matched by the thermochromic ink.  
   
   
       4 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the liner has a background color, and in which the thermochromic ink composition in its first state comprises a color-to-color thermochromic ink that in the first state matches the background color to render the covered or matched portion of the graphics pattern unapparent or hidden at room temperature.  
   
   
       5 . Apparatus according to  claim 4  in which the color-to-color thermochromic ink is heat activated to change to a different color in the second state or remains dormant or unchanged in the third state.  
   
   
       6 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the thermochromic ink composition includes a color-to-color or color-to-clear thermochromic ink layer that becomes thermally activated to change to a selected color when sensing the temperature of a hot medium in the container, while maintaining an adjacent cold activated thermochromic ink layer dormant at the higher temperature.  
   
   
       7 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the thermochromic ink composition includes a color-to-color or clear-to-color thermochromic ink layer that becomes thermally activated to change to a selected color when sensing the temperature of a cold medium in the container, while maintaining an adjacent heat-activated thermochromic ink layer dormant at the lower temperature.  
   
   
       8 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the insulating layer is an irregularly shaped structure formed on the liner.  
   
   
       9 . A container shaped generally as a thermal tumbler and having an interior wall structure separated from an outer wall structure by an open space between the inner and outer wall structures, in which the outer wall structure is at least partially transparent, and a graphics display device contained in the open space visible through the transparent portion of the outer wall structure, the graphics display device comprising a flexible liner having an outside surface, a graphics pattern applied to the outer surface of the liner, and a thermochromic ink composition on the outer surface of the liner covering or providing at least a portion of the graphics pattern, the thermochromic ink composition having (1) a first state that matches or masks a portion of the graphics pattern at room temperature, (2) a second state that reacts to thermal change at a temperature above room temperature from a hot medium disposed in the container to reveal a first phase of the graphics pattern, and (3) a third state that reacts to a thermal change at a temperature below room temperature from a cold medium disposed in the container to reveal a second phase of the graphics pattern.  
   
   
       10 . A dual-function display for use on an article that can be subjected to higher temperatures above room temperature and to lower temperatures below room temperature, for producing different color-change visual effects in response to the sensing of temperature changes, the dual-function graphics display including graphics elements formed by a thermochromic ink composition having (1) a first state that is an opaque color at room temperature, (2) a second state that reacts to the higher temperature and changes to an opaque color different from the color associated with the first state, and (3) a third state that reacts to the lower temperature and changes to an opaque color different from the colors associated with the first and second states.  
   
   
       11 . The dual-function display of  claim 10  in which the graphics image is formed by a blended thermochromic ink composition.